NJ Supreme Court Eases Way For Police To Get Cellphone Records

New Jersey is "more in line with federal law and the vast majority of state jurisdictions" following the state Supreme Court's decision to ease the way for authorities to get phone records in criminal investigations, Attorney General Christopher S. Porrino said.

Acting New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino
Photo Credit: *COURTESY: NJ Governor's Office*

Jerry DeMarco

08/01/2016 5:00 p.m.

“This is an important win for law enforcement and public safety across New Jersey,” Porrino said of the 4-2 ruling.

Instead of having to show probably cause to obtain a warrant -- which had been the New Jersey standard for nearly 35 years -- police must only convince a judge that phone records are important to an investigation, the divided court found.

"Anybody who has practiced criminal law understands the investigative significance of phone billing records, and the importance of being able to obtain them expeditiously while at the same time preserving the constitutional rights of subjects," Porrino said.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Hackensack and receive free news updates.